The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-30
refuge Of TIE people is permitted 10 be


refuge Of the people is permitted 10 be
assailed or corrupted, the days OF in
dependence and freedom are num-
bered. The chooses" who could
control the ballot box would be mas.
ters indeed. They would be more to
be fesrsd than the despots Of Europe,
for working by stealth they could with
ont warning undermine the very cits-
del Of liberty. The Legislature Of Mich
igan, fully persuaded Of this, has under
consideration bill to insure the pu.
riiy OF elections, which provides that
all ballots voted at any election held
in cities having over 10000 inhabit-
ants, shall be printed by the State.
Constitutional amendments and Pref.
dental electors are to be voted for
upon white ballots; candidates for the
Legislature and city and ward officers
upon red ballots, and candidates for
other ffices upon blue ballots. All
these ballots are to be put up in
blocks OF 400 each, aud the cost Of
printing and binding is TO be paid by
the State, the county or the city, &C.
cording to the area throughout which
an election is held. Candidates apply
ing from tea to thirty days before
election day can have their names
placed on the tickets II nominated by
a body tf qualified voters. A ticket
will state the Office to be filed, the
names OF the candidates, with their
respective party designations, a nd op.
posits each candidates. name in the
margin will be left space in which
the voter will signify his choice by
making a mark with pencil. A bank
space is also to be left at the bottom
OF the ticket for the name
OF any person whom the voter may
prefer 10 the printed names. The
voting districts are not to contain
more than 500 voters. When voter
presents himself at the voting place
on election day an inspector OF cleo
tions, after ascertainiDg that he has
the right 10 vote, will give him one Of
each kind tf ballot to be voted, with
his (the inspector's) initials there
upon. The voter will then retire tc
an ad Dining room, place his mark op
posite the names voted for, fold the
ballots so that the Inspectors initials
will show, and then give them to ar
inspector for deposit In the proper
box. Ballots inadvertently spoiled
are TO be returned to the proper clerk
together with all unused ballots. NJ
ballots are 10 be distributed except il
the voting room, and the set Of re
moving q ballot from the voting room
is made q miedemeanor. 1t is als'
made unlawful for an election Office
in the voting room 10 endeavor h
persuade any one to vote for any par
iicular candidate. This would yer,
effeCtually dispose Of the occupation
Of the heelers snd other disreputsbl
creatures who hang about the pollt
muoh to the terror Of quiet and peace
able voters. This bill, II passed, wi
insure with something akin to certain
ty the vote Of every citizen, and wi
reduce the chances OF fraud to next,
not absolutely, to nothing. Modele
upon the existing English law, whic
> has proven successful i'll the gu
, prsssion Of corrupt practices
has been thoroughly tested. II
successful In Michigan 1t will not |
long before 1t will be enacted In otht
States and finally be adopted by al
The ballot box must be- saved from q
impurities, and as much as possib
,, the rouslerS, ringstsrs, strikers 40
ballot box suffers must be drive
from the polls.